Method of waterproofing soles of shoes.



D. J; MURPHY.

METHOD OF WATERPROOFING SOLES 0F SHOES.

v. APPLICATIONIILED JUNE'IQ, 1909.

980,664. Patented Jar 1.3, 1911.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL J. MURPHY, OF LAWRENCE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE MURPHY-TYLER 00., OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

METHOD OF WATERPROOFING SOLES OF SHOES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

Application filed June 19, 1909. Serial No. 503,120%.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL J. MURPHY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lawrence, county of Essex, Commonwealth of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods ofWaterproofing Soles of Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the impregnation of leather with such asubstance or composition as a heavy oily waterproofing agent.

In the impregnation of leather soles, great difliculty is experienced insecuring the complete permeation of the leather by a heavy oil or onenormally approaching a state of viscosity.

In order to secure satisfactory results in a waterproof sole it isnecessary that the permeation be complete and uniform and that thewaterproofing be deposited in such a manner that it will be permanentand afford the water resisting qualities which are sought. It is alsonecessary that the waterproofing take place in such a manner as to leavethe leather at least as pliant as it was before treatment and that itswearing properties be unimpaired and that its surface be capable ofproper finish.

To the end of securing the above features, indicated as desirable, Ihave devised my present invention which consists in a method of applyingwaterproofing by which the above effects are secured.

This method will be more fully described in the specification whichfollows and it is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Ihave endeavored to illustrate diagrammatically the series of stepsinvolving the principles of my invention. In this drawing I have usedcertain reference numerals assigned to certain parts to identify them inconnection with the specification in which I have employed the samenumerals in a corresponding manner.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a tank in which a sole shownin edge elevation is just beginning to be submerged. Fig. 2 is a similarview of an adjacent part of a tank in a more advanced stage ofsubmersion. Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view showing the liquor at itshighest elevation on the sole. Fig. 4 is a similar sectional viewshowing the liquor at a lower level and Fig. 5 is still another similarview showing the receding liquid at a level corresponding to that ofFig. 1. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a blank duringsubmersion and Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of a blank during emersion.

In Figs. 1 and 5 the separate views are intended to indicatesuccessively the periods of submersion and emersion of a blank 1 in aliquid 2.

In Fig. 41 are indicated the walls of a tank and viewed together, Figs.1 to 5 express in broken parts the general construction of such a tank.

3 is a heating coil such as a steam pipe and 5 is a screen supportingthe blank 1 in a vertical position in the liquid.

Referring to Fig. 6 it will be seen that the liquid rising in thedirection of the arrow works up in the blank as indicated by the shadedpart in advance of the surface of liquid.

In Fig. 7 the liquid 2 is indicated as receding in the direction of thearrow, leaving behind it an impregnated area, the excess of liquor inwhich drains down slowly as the blank emerges above the level of thereceding solution.

My invention consists, in brief, in overcoming the internal action ofthe air in the cells of the leather by the simple manipulation of thematerials in the carrying out of the process.

It is to be understood that in such an article as a leather shoe solethere is present an extensive cellular and agglomerated fibrousstructure upon which atmospheric conditions act with considerabledirectness. If now this sole is plunged into a waterproofing preparationwhich, in most instances, is so heavy as to have a tendency to becomeviscid there is trapped within the cells and among the fibers a certainamount of air which is a permanent obstruction to complete impregnation.Having once been externally subjected to a coating of waterproofing thisair compels the formation on the surface of the sole, of a shell orouter layer of waterproofing which in itself prevents any futurepenetration on the part of the waterproofing liquid, to the parts of thesole within. The surface so coated is also not adapted to take a finishor polish as it contains an excess of oil locally. I have discovered byemploying the well known principles of capillary action I am able toexpel the greater part, if not all, of the air from the sole by using amethod of gradual progressive submersion.

-My method of impregnation, therefore, is

practically as follows, still referring to the waterproofing of shoesoles as illustrative thereof: I place in a tank a number of shoe solesvertically supported, toe down and heel up and'suitably spaced apart topermit the free passage of liquid. I then turn into the tank a stream ofwaterproofing preparation which is preferably warmed if the same containheavy oils. I gradually raise the level of the preparation by feeding itinto the tank out of contact with the soles until the surface of theliquid reaches the toes of the vertically disposed soles. As the surfaceof the liquid reaches the tips of the sole it 'begins to soak in andwork through the the'entire length of the sole, or as leather, risingslightly above the level of the liquid on account of the capillaryaction of the cells and fibers. As the liquid progresses in itspermeation of the sole it drives out the air contained in the sole, thesame illary action is enabled to dislodge the air before the entireupper surface is closed and 'thiscapillary action is renderedprogressive by the progressive submersion of the sole.

' In draining the soles before drying it is preferable to do this by apractically reversing of the steps above set forth. This is in orderthatthe excess of liquor may be gently removed still leaving the leatheras heavily impregnated as possible. After the soles have been completelysubmerged and allowed to stand a length of time, which depends 'upon thespecific gravity of the liquid and the porosity of the soles,the levelof the liquid is gradually lowered, thus relieving gradually theinternal pressure upon the sole and permitting the deposit of thewaterproofing material within the sole in a gradual manner withoutsubjecting the same to the drag of rapidly draining liquid. In practiceI find that substantially all kinds of sole leather may be treatedsuccessfully in this manner. There is, however, a difference in thetreatment of bark tan or in acid or chrome tanned leather. I find thatbark tanned soles are best treated at a temperature of 100 Fahrenheit.

In treating bark tanned soles the submersion and emersion should betimed to be completed in about sixty minutes, that is to say the gradualsubmersion of the sole should be accomplished in about thirty minutes,and the gradual draining should be finished in about the same time. Inthe case of acid or chrome tanned blanks much less time is required andthe submersion and emersion may be accomplished usually in fifteenminutes. I find that it is advisable not to submerge the blank furtherthan the heel seat or that portion to which the heel lifts are attached.This is for the reason that the untreated seat is firmer and takes amuch better beading; furthermore being protected by the heel it is notnecessary that the seat be impregnated.

I find that soles prepared in this manner are waterproofed to the utmostdegree, have a remarkable softness and flexibility even when theoriginal leather was stifii and crude, and have a wear resisting qualitywhich seems to be entirely independent of the grade of the leather.

As indicated above, various substances and materials might be usedwithin the limits of the appended claims without (1eparting from thespirit of my invention.

What I, therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of impregnating a leather sole with an oily waterproofing,consisting in subjecting a dry sole to a gradual progressive submersion.2. The method of impregnating a leather sole with an oily waterproofing,consisting in subjecting a dry sole to a gradual progressive submersionlongitudinally and then to a gradual progressive emersion therefrom.

3. The method of impregnating a leather sole with an oily waterproofing,consisting in subjecting a dry sole to a gradual progressive submersionlongitudinally.

4. The method of impregnating a leather sole with an oily waterproofingconsisting in subjecting a dry sole to a gradual progressive submersionlongitudinally and then to a gradual progressive emersion therefrom andthen drying in the presence of warmth.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL J. MURPHY.

Witnesses:

MARION NEWELL, JAMES F. OAVANAGH.

